Fourth Wing - L'Ascesa del Capo d'Ala
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- Arrives
- November 5, 2026
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The FroGames review
You play a powerful ally, someone immediately claims a glory token, you wait. Then you fold, take everything back, and strike in the next round. No one saw it coming.
WHAT IT IS
Survive the brutality of Basgiath War College
Fourth Wing - Rise of the Wingleader brings the world of Rebecca Yarros' Empyrean series to your table—a global publishing phenomenon and fantasy saga soon to be a Prime Video TV series. Designed by Dexter Stevens and published by Goliath Games in collaboration with a team of the series' fans, the game captures the ruthless atmosphere of the Riders Quadrant, where cadets compete to bond with a dragon and survive the military academy's deadly events.
At the table, you play as a cadet fighting to become Wingleader across four pillars: Strength, Agility, Cunning, and Connection. Each turn, you choose whether to play ally cards to dominate a suit, claim glory tokens if you are in the lead, or fold and retrieve your cards to prepare for a future event. The game blends hand management, dynamic majorities, and bluffing: those who claim or fold exit the round, while the others continue to fight. Survive long enough to unlock your unique Signet power, inspired by the magical abilities in the series, and complete a lap around the board to win.
What they're saying abroad
"Fans have made Fourth Wing a cultural phenomenon, and we wanted to honor that passion"
Fans have made Fourth Wing a cultural phenomenon, and we wanted to honor that passion
— Goliath Games
A game that promises to translate the brutal choices, betrayals, and ambition that made Yarros' series famous to the tabletop. With polished components (custom dragon pawns, metal Tairn bookmark, exclusive fan-chosen artwork) and a dedicated solo mode, it stands as a faithful tribute to the Empyrean universe. It remains to be seen whether the play-claim-fold system will sustain the tension of competitive multiplayer or if it will become repetitive after a few games.
— FroGames
Fourth Wing - Rise of the Wingleader
The game includes 12 dedicated solo Signet cards and officially supports 1 player. It likely uses an automated system or deck-bot to simulate opponents claiming tokens, but without published reviews, it's hard to say how well the experience holds up compared to multiplayer. A good alternative for series fans who want to play solo.
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · initial read: based on rulebook and official presentation, subject to updates after initial playsTools for survival
What's in the box
Custom Dragon Pawns
Five dragon markers inspired by the legendary dragons of the series (Tairn, Andarna...) that accompany you on your path to glory across the board. Detailed and collectible.
Ally and Event Cards
50 ally cards with values in the four suits (Strength, Agility, Cunning, Connection) and 24 event cards that determine which suits are valuable each round. Play, accumulate, decide when to claim.
Signet Power Cards
12 unique powers inspired by the magical abilities of the Empyrean series. Unlock them during the game for asymmetrical gameplay: everyone plays differently.
Metal Tairn Bookmark
A premium accessory that serves as a first-player marker, and outside the game, as a collectible bookmark. A touch of care for the fans.
Come si gioca
Video dimostrativo di gameplay.
🎲How to playThe rules in four steps▼
How to play
The flow of each round
Each round follows a simple structure: event revealed, simultaneous turns, claims or folds. Those who stay in the game accumulate cards; those who leave earn points or recover resources.
An event card is drawn from the pile. Each event assigns one of the four suits (Strength, Agility, Cunning, Connection) to each of the four claimable tokens. Now you know what is worth it this round.
Taking turns, choose ONE of the three actions: play ally cards from your hand to increase your total in a suit; claim a token if you have the majority in that suit (take glory points and exit the round); fold and take back all played cards (exit the round without points).
Whoever claims or folds is out for the rest of the round. The others continue playing cards and attempting claims. The round ends when everyone has claimed, folded, or run out of options.
Those who claimed move their dragon pawn on the board by the number of glory spaces earned. Complete a lap = unlock your Signet power. Three failed events (no claims for three rounds) = take a wound. Three wounds = elimination. Play continues until someone completes the track.
⏱️Your first gameThe chronicle, moment by moment▼
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
The round's event
Someone reveals the event card: today Strength and Connection are worth it. You look at your hand, you count how many Strength cards you have. The others do the same. No one speaks, but everyone calculates. The tension rises.
The first moves
The first player drops three Strength cards. You play two Cunning ones (they aren't worth anything today, but who knows about tomorrow?). Someone bets everything on Connection. Who is bluffing and who actually has the hand?
The claim
The player to your left has the majority in Strength: they claim the token, take the glory points, and stop for this round. Now you know that token is no longer in play. You must change your plan on the fly.
Fold and recover
You played too many cards, your hand is empty, the next event might be better. You declare a fold: you take back all the cards you had played. No points, but you'll return stronger tomorrow. The others look at you and wonder: what are they plotting?
Signet power and end of game
Someone completes a lap of the board and unlocks their Signet power: they can manipulate majorities, steal tokens, ignore events. The last cards are played with total asymmetry. Whoever reaches 15 glory wins, but the wounds accumulated (three failed events = elimination) take their victims.
🐸Good to know beforeThree honest things, from friends▼
Good to know before
Three things you need to know
Made for fans of the series
If you haven't read Fourth Wing or at least heard of the Empyrean series, you lose half the charm. The Signet powers, the dragon names, the events taken from the books: everything only takes on meaning if you know Rebecca Yarros' universe. For those who aren't fans, it is a light majority game with a generic fantasy theme.
Lightweight, not a deep experience
With a weight of 1.7 on BGG, this is a gateway game or a family game, not a complex eurogame. The choices are tactical but not layered: after 3-4 games you might have explored everything. Perfect for quick evenings, less so for those looking for the depth of Brass or Ark Nova.
Uncertain longevity
The game has been out for a few months and only has 12 votes on BGG. We don't yet know if the play-claim-fold system holds up over dozens of games or if the repetitiveness of the events and the limited variability of the cards make it wear thin. It's a gamble, not a proven certainty.
🏆Victory and defeatWhat rewards the end▼
How it ends
How to win and how to lose
Whoever completes a lap of the board first by collecting glory points wins. But you can be eliminated before reaching the end.
Victory
- Complete a lap of the board by accumulating 15 glory points (or the established value) by claiming tokens in the various rounds
- Unlock your unique Signet power halfway through the course and use it to dominate the final rounds
- Survive deadly events without accumulating three wounds
Elimination
- Accumulate three wounds by failing too many events (not claiming for three consecutive rounds or taking penalties)
- Others complete the course before you and you are left behind
- You play the timing poorly: you claim too soon and lose cards, or too late and lose tokens
A game that lives by its narrative universe and an elegant system, but one that still needs to be tested in the long run. If you love the Empyrean series, it's an almost mandatory purchase. If you are looking for pure strategy, this is probably not the dragon you were waiting for.
💬Frequently asked questionsQuick answers before the cart▼
Frequently asked questions
FAQ about Fourth Wing - Rise of the Wingleader
Do I have to have read the Fourth Wing books to play?
No, the game works even without knowing the series: the rules are clear and the play-claim-fold system is self-sufficient. But you would lose much of the charm: the Signet powers, the dragon names, the events taken from the novels only make sense if you know Rebecca Yarros' Empyrean universe. For non-fans, it is a generic thematic fantasy majority game.
Is it suitable for those who don't usually play board games?
Yes, it is a perfect gateway game for newcomers. Weight 1.7 out of 5, rules explainable in 10 minutes, limited duration (30-60 minutes), intuitive choices. Ideal for family evenings or to introduce reading friends to board games. Experts might find it too light after a few games.
What mechanics does Fourth Wing - Rise of the Wingleader use?
The heart is hand management and set collection with dynamic majorities. Each turn you decide whether to play ally cards to dominate a suit, claim a token if you are in the lead, or fold while recovering your cards. Includes bluffing elements (when do you fold? when do you claim?), implicit auction (who spends more cards?), and asymmetry of the Signet powers unlocked halfway through the game. There is also player elimination: three wounds and you are out.
How does it work solo?
The game includes 12 Signet cards dedicated to solo play and officially supports 1 player. You likely use an automated or deck bot system that simulates opponents by claiming tokens and playing cards. Without published reviews, it is hard to say how the experience holds up: estimated rating 3/5, a good alternative for fans of the series who want to play alone, but probably not up to the standard of multiplayer.
Is it available in Italian?
Yes, the edition on sale at FroGames is in Italian, published by MS Edizioni. It includes completely translated rules, cards, and components. The original edition was published in English by Goliath Games in July 2026.
The people behind the game
Who invented it, who designed it, who publishes it — and what else they've done.
Fourth Wing - Rise of the Wingleader is a competitive strategy board game for 1-5 players aged 14 and up, with games lasting 30 to 60 minutes. Designed by Dexter Stevens and based on the Empyrean fantasy series by Rebecca Yarros, the game brings the brutal atmosphere of Basgiath War College to the table through hand management, set collection, and bluffing mechanics. Each round you choose whether to play ally cards to dominate one of the four suits (Strength, Agility, Cunning, Connection), claim glory tokens if you have the majority, or fold while recovering cards for the next turn. Includes premium components (custom dragon pawns, Tairn metal bookmark), asymmetric Signet powers inspired by the books, and an official solo mode with dedicated cards. Italian edition by MS Edizioni, light weight (1.7/5), ideal for fans of the series and gateway gamers. Available at FroGames.it.
Fourth Wing - L'Ascesa del Capo d'Ala
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
📸Do the images match the actual product?
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📦Does the content of the box match what is indicated?
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